Manu M, a cricket coach from Thiruvananthapuram, has been handed a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted in multiple sexual assault cases involving students at a coaching academy. The verdict marks another major development in a case that has shaken the local cricketing community and drawn significant attention across the country.
The fast-track special court delivered the sentence on Thursday, with the accused receiving 35 years of rigorous imprisonment and a monetary fine after being found guilty in one of six cases registered against him.
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Court awards 35-year sentence in latest conviction
The court sentenced 40-year-old cricket coach Manu M to 35 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹66,000. The verdict was delivered in the second case against the accused, who had previously been convicted in a separate sexual assault case involving another minor.
The sentence was handed down under multiple provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, along with sections of the Information Technology Act and the Indian Penal Code.
According to court records, the latest sentence will begin only after the completion of the prison term imposed in the earlier case. The court also directed that the substantive sentences awarded in the present matter would run concurrently.
Notably, the court did not recommend compensation for the survivor under the relevant legal provisions.
Investigation revealed multiple allegations against the coach
According to the prosecution, the survivor had been training at a prominent cricket academy in Thiruvananthapuram since 2018. Investigators alleged that the coach repeatedly exploited his position of authority and sexually assaulted the victim under the guise of training activities.
The prosecution further stated that the accused allegedly recorded explicit photos and videos of the victim and used them to intimidate and blackmail her. Fear of repercussions and concerns about her cricketing future reportedly prevented the survivor from speaking out at the time.
As the investigation progressed, authorities uncovered allegations involving five other children associated with the academy. Several of the alleged victims reportedly left the coaching centre and joined different facilities without initially reporting the incidents.
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The matter came to light during a girls' cricket tournament in 2024 when one of the survivors encountered the accused after several years and subsequently filed a complaint. Her decision encouraged others to come forward, resulting in six separate cases being registered against the coach.
So far, trials in four of those cases have been completed, leading to two convictions. The remaining cases against Manu M are expected to continue through the legal process in the coming months.